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The MA International Law, Ethics and Politics at the University of Birmingham is a dynamic 12-month full-time program (or part-time option) that dives into the intersections of law, ethics, and politics, tackling global challenges like poverty reduction, international trade, and climate change from multiple perspectives. It's perfect for students aiming to boost their career or pursue a PhD, blending academic theory with practical experience through options like a practice-based dissertation at an NGO or policy organization.
Curriculum structure
First term (September - December): You'll kick off with foundational modules that build your skills across disciplines, starting with Introduction to Legal Research to master key research methods, alongside Public International Law for a deep dive into the principles governing states and global relations, and Issues in International Criminal Law and Justice to explore accountability for atrocities like war crimes. These seminars—two hours weekly—bring together experts from law, philosophy, and political science, encouraging you to debate real-world ethical dilemmas and think critically across boundaries.
Second term (January - March): Building on term one, you'll tackle specialized topics such as Law of International Organisations, examining how bodies like the UN shape global governance, paired with options like Preferential Trade Agreements and Regional Blocs to analyze economic alliances and their political impacts, or Race, Ethnicity and Criminal Justice for insights into equality and justice systems. This phase sharpens your ability to apply theory to pressing issues, with full-time students completing three modules per term toward the 120 taught credits.
Summer term (dissertation phase): Cap it off with a 60-credit dissertation, where you can choose a traditional research project or the exciting practice-based option, partnering with professionals at an NGO to craft solutions for actual global problems. This hands-on culmination lets you demonstrate expertise while gaining invaluable real-world exposure.
Focus areas: Intersections of law, ethics, and politics; global issues like poverty, trade, climate change, and international justice; practical skills through interdisciplinary seminars and placements.
Learning outcomes: Broaden understanding of ethical challenges in legal and political spheres; gain rounded perspectives on global problems; develop research and practical skills for careers or PhD study; mix theory with real-world application via dissertation options.
Professional alignment (accreditation): No specific external accreditation noted, but the program aligns with careers in policy, NGOs, international organizations, and diplomacy through its practice-based elements and expert-led teaching informed by ongoing research.
Reputation (employability rankings): Benefit from Birmingham's top UK ranking for research power in Politics and International Studies (REF 2021), with 100% of research rated world-leading—ensuring you're learning from cutting-edge experts. Our philosophy teaching is research-intensive, directly enhancing employability in global roles.
Find full details and apply here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/subjects/philosophy-courses/international-law-ethics-and-politics-ma
At the University of Birmingham's MA International Law, Ethics and Politics, you'll dive into practical skills by tackling real-world ethical and political challenges alongside experts from law, philosophy, and political science. The program mixes academic theory with hands-on experience, especially through the standout practice-based dissertation option, where you spend time at an NGO or policy-based organization, collaborating with industry professionals to craft solutions for actual global issues. This isn't just theory—it's your chance to build a portfolio of real impact while kickstarting your career.
This practical focus connects directly to our supportive learning environment:
- Practice-based dissertation: Work on-site at NGOs or policy organizations, gaining direct experience with professionals on pressing ethical and legal problems.
- Small seminar classes (no more than 18 students): Weekly two-hour sessions encourage active participation, debate, and skill-building in analysis and argumentation.
- European Research Institute (G3, Room 145): Dedicated drop-in sessions and events for the program, hosted by faculty like Dr. Maja Spener, for personalized research guidance.
- Interdisciplinary research facilities: Access state-of-the-art spaces across philosophy, law, and politics, informed by world-leading faculty research (e.g., REF 2021 rankings).
- Campus-wide resources: Historic and modern facilities, including libraries and collaborative spaces, to support your dissertation and projects.
Imagine applying right now to turn these opportunities into your future—spots fill fast! Check the full facilities list here: [Explore our beautiful campus and state-of-the-art facilities](https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/explore).
At the University of Birmingham's MA International Law, Ethics and Politics, you'll dive straight into practical skills by tackling real-world ethical challenges in law and politics, blending insights from philosophy, law, and political science experts. Our small seminar-style classes (no more than 18 students) let you actively debate and apply theory, while the standout practice-based dissertation gives you hands-on experience at an NGO or policy organization, where you'll work with professionals to craft solutions for actual global issues. This isn't just classroom talk—it's your chance to build a portfolio that stands out to employers, all supported by our research-led teaching from active scholars.
Here's how our facilities and opportunities make experiential learning come alive for this program::
- Practice-based dissertation placements: Spend your 60-credit project embedded at an NGO or policy-based organization, gaining real-world experience alongside industry pros on pressing ethical and political challenges.
- Interdisciplinary seminars in dedicated spaces: Weekly two-hour sessions in the European Research Institute (e.g., Room 145), perfect for drop-in advice from programme leads like Dr. Maja Spener and collaborative group discussions across philosophy, law, and politics.
- State-of-the-art campus facilities: Access historic and modern spaces across our Edgbaston campus, including cutting-edge resources for philosophy and interdisciplinary research that tie directly into your modules on global ethics and justice.
- Research-intensive environment: Work with lecturers whose ongoing research in philosophy informs every class, helping you bridge theory to practice in small, interactive groups.
Imagine finishing with skills that open doors to policy roles, NGOs, or international law—applying is straightforward, and our advisors are here to guide you every step. Check out the full facilities list here: [Explore our beautiful campus and state-of-the-art facilities](https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/visit/virtual-tour).
2:1 Honours Degree in Philosophy, Theology, Sociology, Psychology, Neuroscience, Linguistics or similar disciplines2:1 Honours degree in Law, Philosophy, Politics or another relevant subjectAppropriate work experience will be taken into considerationSubmit a writing sample of around 1500 words, especially if you've studied a non-humanities degreeIf out of academia for some time, one professional reference and one academic reference are accepted instead of two academic referencesInternational students are required to pay a tuition fee deposit before a CAS can be issuedMandatory pre-sessional generic LLM introductory classes for students with a law backgroundMandatory bespoke pre-sessional introduction to Law classes joint with students from the MA Health, Bioethics and Law for students without a law backgroundMandatory pre-sessional generic LLM introductory classes for students without a law backgroundIELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any bandTOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in WritingUK: 2:1 Honours Degree in a relevant subjectIndia: Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved 55% - 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalencyUSA: 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirementChina: Economics suite and Non-quantitive programmes* entry requirement are 75%-85%,global governanceinternational developmentNGOspolicy analysis
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